Sponsors should be screened. I see Banded as a sponsor on Waterfowl.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Kola16 ...This is my biggest beech about leasing land ...you nailed it ..and I am not just weeding out Banned ..we all live in a certain area and we only have so much land we can access including private - state and federal  . we all cherish these lands that we use close to our homes and when everything around you is gated and that leaves you with less opportunity to use this land and then to have someone come in and lease the remaining land that was usable to you is paving the end for hunters like me and you and the rest of us ....It all sounds like we are idiots but it is the truth .....unless you have lots of money it is for sure coming to an end  we take everything for granite and that will be our down fall !!!! this is also why hunters get so peeesy over there hunting areas because they squeeze use in all together so its like a combat zone .......

Texas is nearly all private land and permission is hard to come by. I have seen no shortage of hunters. There will certainly be people that stop hunting because things are harder or different than the "good old days"... but for the most part hunters are a passionate bunch...where there is a will there is a way.  It's all about priorities.

[CCurtis]

"we all live in a certain area and we only have so much land we can access including private - state and federal.  we all cherish these lands that we use close to our homes and when everything around you is gated and that leaves you with less opportunity to use this land"

The following statements are my thoughts based on my beliefs and values and is not necessarily the thoughts or feelings of other folks at Banded.
In my mind, this whole discussion boils down to the above statement.  While I can sympathize with the plight, I can't get passed the heart of the above statement that fundamentally flies in the face of everything I believe in.  When I read the above statement this is what I hear:

"we all live in a certain area and we only have so much land (owned by someone else) we can access (for free) including private - state and federal.  we all cherish these (free)lands that we use (for free for our personal recreation and enjoyment) close to our homes and when everything around you is gated and that leaves you with less opportunity to use this land"

I dont believe in our country operating on those principles in any other aspect of life so for me to think land access for hunting should be based on those principles would make me a hypocrit. 

Whether anyone on here believes this or not, duck hunting is AS important to me and my heritage as anyone.  But, I also understand that I will never be able to hunt the best spots because I'll never be able to afford to...much the same as I'll never be able to go on an African safari or go to Alaska to shoot a brown bear.  Will my 13 year old son be able to hunt great places?  I understand, depends on how successful he is in life.  Will he be able to hunt at all?  That depends on many factors but in my opinion, guide operations are not one of the variables.

[Tealer]

Guys,

Greatly appreciate the supportive posts and PM's.  Appreciate them, but they aren't necessary.  I'm a big boy and I realize that there are some people that are living in fear of losing their free places to hunt just like there are lots of people that live in fear of going to the mailbox once a month and a check not being in there.  I don't see things the same as either one of these groups.  There's nothing I can say or do as a representative of myself or Banded to change that.

What I can say is that through all this I've learned that I made the right choice by sponsoring this site and that the major reason that this thread started was "Sponsors Should be Screened"...Well the title of the thread should be changed to say "All Sponsors Should be Screened to Make Sure They Aren't Guides That Lease Land"...Much more accurate.

I have already met some great people on here...heck they all seem great just some have different viewpoints than I and that's what makes this country great!  I look forward to many great discussions here and we've got some exciting Hunt Washington Exclusives coming!  As far as this thread, I feel like I've answered all that has been asked and we're to the point of a lot of "yeah, what he said" posts.  So, now we're just beating the preverbal dead horse which happens quite often on the internet.  If you have any more questions or comments regarding this, feel free to pm me...unless of course it makes you feel better to "pound on me" in public, you're welcomed to do that and I will respond as I have to all the rest.

Thanks to everyone!

Christian

Hate to say it but, there are thousands and thousands of public land to hunt on in Washington State. So muich that you'd never be able to cover it all in a lifetime..........

Keep that attitude up and get back to me in 5 years. We lose a little everyday, then what? Face it, hunter numbers are down, way down, and every year it gets more crowded at every public spot. Why do you think that is? It will get to pay to play sport soon enough. No need to help it along.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have no problem with guiding anything ... there are seasons people hire guides ..and I have no problem with it ...My problem is I guess I was born 45 yrs to early ... The NEW hunting heritage has gotten a whole new meaning on how we all like to hunt ...thats your choice ..I prefer doing it the old fashion way ..which is going hunting ...and as far as the ( private land ) issues goes you guys leasing land are sending a message I do not agree with and that is telling landowners I will pay top dollar for hunting rights ... It will not belong before it is all run that way ...just my opinion ..thats by biggest concern ..I have another BANDED Hunt club in my county and the farmer always let everyone hunt on his property and it is some of the best duck hunting around and then he is confronted by the guy about leasing his land for hunting rights and now it is his land to hunt and now we have to stand around and watch the show go on ...I can not see how anyone who has hunted an area so long is supposed to stand by and not beach about it ...we all have our own way of seeing things and if we all agreed then it would be damn boring ..I am against the leasing land to hunt issue and thats all I can say ..I know its all about the dollar and what a shame 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Kola16 ...This is my biggest beech about leasing land ...you nailed it ..and I am not just weeding out Banned ..we all live in a certain area and we only have so much land we can access including private - state and federal  . we all cherish these lands that we use close to our homes and when everything around you is gated and that leaves you with less opportunity to use this land and then to have someone come in and lease the remaining land that was usable to you is paving the end for hunters like me and you and the rest of us ....It all sounds like we are idiots but it is the truth .....unless you have lots of money it is for sure coming to an end  we take everything for granite and that will be our down fall !!!! this is also why hunters get so peeesy over there hunting areas because they squeeze use in all together so its like a combat zone .......

please do not get me on the TEXAS ISSUE  tEXAS has so much money they can buy anything ..including paying for trophy size deer and puttin tags in their ears ....How sweet is that 

Texas is nearly all private land and permission is hard to come by. I have seen no shortage of hunters. There will certainly be people that stop hunting because thing are harder or different than the "good old days"... but for the most part hunters are a passionate bunch...where there is a will there is a way.  It's all about priorities.

[Ned]

I have no problem with guiding anything ... there are seasons people hire guides ..and I have no problem with it ...My problem is I guess I was born 45 yrs to early ... The NEW hunting heritage has gotten a whole new meaning on how we all like to hunt ...thats your choice ..I prefer doing it the old fashion way ..which is going hunting ...and as far as the ( private land ) issues goes you guys leasing land are sending a message I do not agree with and that is telling landowners I will pay top dollar for hunting rights ... It will not belong before it is all run that way ...just my opinion ..thats by biggest concern ..I have another BANDED Hunt club in my county and the farmer always let everyone hunt on his property and it is some of the best duck hunting around and then he is confronted by the guy about leasing his land for hunting rights and now it is his land to hunt and now we have to stand around and watch the show go on ...I can not see how anyone who has hunted an area so long is supposed to stand by and not beach about it ...we all have our own way of seeing things and if we all agreed then it would be damn boring ..I am against the leasing land to hunt issue and thats all I can say ..I know its all about the dollar and what a shame 

So a farmer pays HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS of dollars for a peice of property, pays taxes on it every year and then get frowned upon for accepting money for a lease??
If this same farmer asked you every weekend to borrow your truck free of charge..............would you let him.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Truthfully yes I would ...... 

[Ned]

Truthfully yes I would ...... 

Your nose is growing.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

The NEW hunting heritage has gotten a whole new meaning on how we all like to hunt ...thats your choice ..I prefer doing it the old fashion way ..which is going hunting ...and as far as the ( private land ) issues goes you guys leasing land are sending a message I do not agree with and that is telling landowners I will pay top dollar for hunting rights ... It will not belong before it is all run that way ...just my opinion ..thats by biggest concern

Why should landowners not get market value for hunting rights on their property? I can't think of anything that is more free enterprise and capitalist than that.

[300rum]

Lots of socialist views here.

I know!  Let's have the government come in and regulate what can/can't be leased and for how much.   

The NEW hunting heritage has gotten a whole new meaning on how we all like to hunt ...thats your choice ..I prefer doing it the old fashion way ..which is going hunting ...and as far as the ( private land ) issues goes you guys leasing land are sending a message I do not agree with and that is telling landowners I will pay top dollar for hunting rights ... It will not belong before it is all run that way ...just my opinion ..thats by biggest concern

Why should landowners not get market value for hunting rights on their property? I can't think of anything that is more free enterprise and capitalist than that.

[h2ofowlr]

This is reason enough not to support your company.  Chad, he thinks he is the cock of the block.  If he is not "Winning" then he pisses and moans about it.  His losses at at calling championship were blamed on the judges not his skill.  It's all about him.  People are figuring it out quickly, so hopefully you rolled your dice correctly on the Banded notion or you just made a bad investment.  Hopefully your banded / Avery team didn't turn down the short road! 

Land wise, I have lost more in the past 30 years to re-zoning and housing than to the Banded Boys.  Unfortunately is was at a rapid speed in the past two years for the guided outfits.  Banded team thought it was inevitable, so they thought they would help out and try to play catch up with the Midwest & east coast.  Gotcha, I guess I didn't think of it like that.

[rasbo]

The NEW hunting heritage has gotten a whole new meaning on how we all like to hunt ...thats your choice ..I prefer doing it the old fashion way ..which is going hunting ...and as far as the ( private land ) issues goes you guys leasing land are sending a message I do not agree with and that is telling landowners I will pay top dollar for hunting rights ... It will not belong before it is all run that way ...just my opinion ..thats by biggest concern

Why should landowners not get market value for hunting rights on their property? I can't think of anything that is more free enterprise and capitalist than that.

I agree,its their land do as they wish and whats better for them.long as access to public land isnt blocked.I pay for access to private property now,sucks I have to, to feel comfortable leaving my rig unattended...

[Kola16]

Truthfully yes I would ...... 

Your nose is growing.

Actually, if that farmer let me hunt his land, I probably would also.

And if your location is "duck central," why are you coming here 

[CAMPMEAT]

Mr. Chad is a business man. He's in it for the money and not about anything else. Plain and simple.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Truthfully yes I would ...... 

Your nose is growing.

Actually, if that farmer let me hunt his land, I probably would also.

And if your location is "duck central," why are you coming here 

But would you let him borrow the truck on the weekends if he didn't let you hunt his land? That would be a much fairer comparison to a farmer allowing free acces?

And lets just throw in that the fact that he will ensure the truck is washed and the oil is changed (which compares to any work you may do or salmon you may exchange in good will for his kindness of letting you hunt his property)